We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

We set high expectations so that our students can exceed them. We are preparing our students for success in college, career and life. We are also a fully “open source” organization. We want to help all of us go further, faster toward the goal of providing an excellent education for every child, everywhere.

Every day, students in our schools across Connecticut, Brooklyn and Rhode Island are solving for x and shattering stereotypes, winning debate tournaments and football games and preparing for their futures as college graduates.

Every day, students in our schools across Connecticut, Brooklyn and Rhode Island are solving for x and shattering stereotypes, winning debate tournaments and football games and preparing for their futures as college graduates.

We refuse to accept a world where social injustices stand as barriers to our students’ success. Our students can not only achieve on par with their affluent peers across the country, they can achieve alongside the highest-performing students in the world. Our students will redefine what excellence looks like.

We refuse to accept a world where social injustices stand as barriers to our students’ success. Our students can not only achieve on par with their affluent peers across the country, they can achieve alongside the highest-performing students in the world. Our students will redefine what excellence looks like.

We refuse to accept a world where social injustices stand as barriers to our students’ success. Our students can not only achieve on par with their affluent peers across the country, they can achieve alongside the highest-performing students in the world. Our students will redefine what excellence looks like.

We refuse to accept a world where social injustices stand as barriers to our students’ success. Our students can not only achieve on par with their affluent peers across the country, they can achieve alongside the highest-performing students in the world. Our students will redefine what excellence looks like.

Every year, our seniors gain acceptance to colleges and universities across the country.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

Every day, we work hard to fulfill our mission: to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America's children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education.

We believe a great education can level the playing field, break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for all of us.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

Teaching and leading at Achievement First means being a part of an awesomely powerful team of tireless educators and specialists, incredible families, and students who are working every day toward improving themselves and our world.

We develop, recognize and reward teachers through constant professional development and the Teacher Career Pathway.

Every day, we’re working toward social justice and better educational opportunities not just for our students, but for all students.Without you—our partners, friends, board members, donors, community leaders and neighbors—our work would not be possible.

Every day, we’re working toward social justice and better educational opportunities not just for our students, but for all students.Without you—our partners, friends, board members, donors, community leaders and neighbors—our work would not be possible.

Every day, we’re working toward social justice and better educational opportunities not just for our students, but for all students.Without you—our partners, friends, board members, donors, community leaders and neighbors—our work would not be possible.

Every day, we’re working toward social justice and better educational opportunities not just for our students, but for all students.Without you—our partners, friends, board members, donors, community leaders and neighbors—our work would not be possible.

We host hundreds of visitors—including community members, elected officials and educators—in our schools each year.

Some say we’re geeky about math. We agree. We’ve had real success helping elementary students succeed in math. Now we’d love to support you on your journey to breakthrough math achievement. Through Navigator, you’ll not only have access to an elementary math program with a proven track record of success, you’ll also receive ongoing professional development and one-on-one coaching to support you in your journey to create a powerful and long-lasting impact on math achievement at your school. And that’s something to geek out about.

A full partnership with Navigator gives schools:

Access to our complete elementary math program, including all curricula, all assessments, and related resources

Access to and training on Math Stories, a conceptual math problem solving approach

15 months of coaching and implementation support for school teams

The option to adopt only Math Stories, while continuing to use your current math curriculum

The option to continue and expand participation in the program in future years, adding additional grades and program components

About Navigator

We’re an Achievement First open source program. Our goal is to partner with other district and charter schools to adopt and adapt our curriculum and instructional practices to help them support their students to breakthrough results in math. The program is available to elementary schools in New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Springfield, MA, and will begin in June 2017.

Explore the AF Math Program

If you would like to learn more about the AF math program, please read the Program Overview and Fundamentals of Instruction, which guide our approach to elementary math. You are also welcome to explore the full curriculum and related resources on the Open Source section of our website (see the drop-down menu under Our Approach). It takes just a few seconds to create a username and password, and from there you can go into the Instructional Model section where you will find access to all of AF's daily curriculum resources.

Connect with the Navigator Program

To learn more about Navigator, please join us on an upcoming 1 hour webinar:

Thursday, February 23, 5:30–6:30 pm EST

Wednesday, March 1, 3–4:00 pm EST

Register here. You’ll meet our math coaches, watch short video clips of Math Stories in action and you’ll hear a program overview followed by dynamic Q&A. Principals, math leaders, math teachers and district leaders are all welcome.

FAQs

Who is eligible to participate in Navigator?

District and charter schools in New York City, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Springfield, MA are eligible to apply for the program for the 17-18 school year. Our ideal candidates are schools with:• School teams excited to take on this work. This includes the principal, school-based math lead (generally a math coach, dean or assistant principal whose focus is math), and teachers in selected grades• Classroom teachers in selected grades who have solid achievement• A record of implementing new initiatives successfully• A strong desire to dramatically increase student performance in math.• That may be currently using a direct instruction approach to math instruction, but are eager to move to an approach that is inquiry-based and focused on students’ conceptual understanding.

What is the application process and timeline for the 2017-18 school year?

• Applications for Navigator will be available on our website on February 15.• Applications are due on March 8.• Candidates will be notified by March 15 if they have been selected for an initial phone interview.• In person interviews will be scheduled in late March through April.

What does Navigator view as the “recipe for success” in elementary math?

There is a set of core program components, leader and teacher practices, and leader and teacher mindsets that all need to work together to achieve breakthrough academic results. Navigator will work with participants over 1-2 years to implement these elements.

Leader and teacher practices• Ongoing intellectual preparation of daily lessons• Regular observation and feedback of teaching• Weekly analysis of student data• Looking at student work protocols to plan for response to data

Leader and teacher mindsets• Growth mindset and hunger for feedback to improve skill and outcomes• Belief that all children can achieve at the highest levels• Strong desire to shift math instruction to a higher level of rigor• Interest in shifting teacher practice to an inquiry-based structure that focused on student discussion and letting students grapple with concepts they are learning

Is it possible to adopt some, but not all of the components of the “recipe for success” and still participate in the program?

While we believe that to achieve transformative gains a school needs to implement all of the elements outlined above, we recognize that making this transition in one year may be too dramatic of a change for most schools. We strongly encourage and will give preference to schools that are looking to adopt all elements of the program, and will work with schools to determine whether the best pace for that adoption will be over the course of 1 or 2 years.

How will Navigator support my school in adopting your elementary math program?

Participants in the program will receive intensive professional development in the summer of 2017 to learn the core contents and the approach to the AF math program and will work 1:1 with a coach to plan for implementation at your school, including the change management necessary for a smooth transition. Once the school year begins, your coach will be there to support you from a half day to a full day per week as you conduct observations together, troubleshoot and plan for ongoing implementation. You will continue learning core teacher and leader practices and mindsets.

What is the time commitment to participate in the program and for whom?

The principal and math lead (math coach, assistant principal, dean) must participate in a 5-day intensive professional development session in June of 2017.During the 2017-18 school year:• Principals must set a weekly meeting with the math lead to support implementation• Math leaders must commit to weekly observation and coaching of teachers involved in the program (this will often be done in conjunction with your weekly meeting with your coach)• Math leaders across Navigator schools will meet virtually or in person every 6-8 weeks to share cohort data, dilemmas and to jointly problem solve

What commitments do I need to have in place to be able to participate in Navigator?

If you are applying to adopt Math Stories only, the following requirements must be met:• Plan to implement in at least K-2, 2-4 or 3-5• Have at least four 20 min blocks per week available for Math Stories• Commitment to learning or strengthening core teacher and leader practices of intellectual preparation for lessons and observation and feedback• A building level leader (math coach, assistant principal) is on staff to lead implementation• An enthusiastic team of teachers in participating grades• A group of teachers and leaders who are not wedded to direct instruction. This may be how you are currently teaching math, but you and your teachers should be open and eager for learning a new approach to math instructionIf you are applying to adopt Math Stories and Math Lessons, you should meet all of the requirements listed above as well as:• Plan to implement Math Lessons and Math Stories in at least K-1 or 2-4 or 3-4• Have minimum minutes available in the schedule as follows: K-1: at least four 45 minute blocks per week (plus four 20 minute blocks per week for math stories); 2-4: at least four 55 minute blocks per week (plus four 20 minute blocks per week for math stories) available in the schedule• Commitment to learning or strengthening all core teacher and leader practices listed in our Recipe for Success above

Do I need to change my math curriculum to be able to participate in Navigator?

If your school is planning to adopt only Math Stories in Year 1, you may continue to use your current math curriculum as long as it is not a program that is built around direct instruction, such as Saxon Math. If your school is planning to adopt our math lessons, these will become your daily curriculum.

Is there a cost to Navigator?

There is a fee for each school participating in the program on a sliding scale based on the size of the district or charter school. This fee will cover less than a quarter of the total cost of the program, the remainder of which is supported through philanthropy. Please inquire directly with our staff about the relevant costs for your school.